Reading for Results

BUILDING

WORD POWERChapter 2-Part 1

Words … Words … Words … Words “The more words you

know, the more clearly and powerfully you will think … and the more ideas you will invite into your mind.”

William Funk

Using Context What is the definition of the word “context?”

The words that surround a word or passage and can help define its meaning.

An approximate meaning = Use the surrounding words to understand the

meaning of an unknown word in a sentence to provide an approximate definition for the word.

Example: When Russia was under the

control of Josef Stalin, dissidents were routinely shot or imprisoned in hospitals for the mentally ill. Stalin did not allow anyone to express disagreement or discontent with his politics.

What is the approximate meaning of the word dissidents?

There are 4 categories of context clues:

Example clues Contrast clues Restatement clues General knowledge clues

Example clues: Provide examples of the behavior or

thinking associated with the word EXAMPLE: The discussion was becoming

increasingly belligerent; no matter what was said, someone in the group would challenge it in an angry voice.

What is the clue?

Contrast clues: May suggest the opposite meaning of the word May be indicated by transitional words such as

but, yet, nevertheless, however, although. EXAMPLE: At first the smell was almost

flowerlike, but in a matter of minutes it became harsh and acrid.

What is the clue? What does the word acrid mean?

Restatement clues Uses synonyms or words that share a similar

meaning. EXAMPLE: His behavior was eccentric; in New

York, it wasn’t all that unusual for people to be odd.

What is the clue?

Restatement clues in textbooks

The authors are more likely to give you an exact definition introduced by a comma or enclosed in parentheses or dashes.

EXAMPLE: Cognition – thinking or knowing – has been the subject of numerous studies.

General knowledge clues Your knowledge of the situation or events

described will be your only real clue to word meaning.

EXAMPLE: Football and basketball coaches are frequently known for their volatile tempers.

Define volatile based on your knowledge of football or basketball coaches.

Volatile = ?

Context has a powerful influence on meaning!

Everywhere I go, that detective dogs me like a bloodhound.

I have been pounding the pavement for hours; I’ve just about walked my dogs off.

As soon as the dogs saw the car, they ran after it.

What are the different meanings of the word dogs?

Limitations of Context Clues Context clues seldom lead to a complete definition.

The reporters stood on the sidelines of the fight – no one wanted to get involved.

Sometimes a sentence does not contain clues to a word’s meaning. The supervisor commented on Bob’s belligerent behavior.

Context clues do not help us learn to pronounce a new word. The senator’s speech of full of hyperbole.

Context clues help us to understand, but not necessarily remember a word’s meaning.

The End … or The Beginning!

Practice these concepts by doing the exercises in Reading for Results!